Multiple "sales" of EAR 324?

04-10-15: Bdp24
The guy picks the EAR 324 Phono Amp, a pretty esoteric item, as his bait. How would a guy like this even know about an item like the EAR?!

Because he copied an ad that had previously appeared elsewhere.

A technique that can be useful in assessing whether or not a questionable ad is fraudulent is to Google phrases from the ad, enclosing the phrases in quotes.

For example, although the fraudulent EAR 324 ad which is the subject of this thread has been deleted, I was able to find it in Google's cache. By Googling a phrase from its text, I found that the ad was copied from an offering that was made at a different audio-related site in 2011. The asking price at that time, by the way (the piece being described as 6 years old at that point), was 3500 Canadian dollars, roughly double the US$ price asked by the fraudulent seller.

Also, A'gon has already deleted the fraudulent ad for an Allnic H-1500 that was mentioned by John just above. I found, however, that the photos used in that ad are identical to some of the photos used in a German-language ad currently running at the well known auction site (and they do not appear to be stock photos).

I'll mention also that I recall some time ago noticing a couple of ads here for some VERY expensive vintage Marantz tube equipment, which I readily determined had been copied from listings that had appeared several months earlier at the well known auction site. I'm sure those cases were not unique.

Bdp24, good luck. I'm sure it will work out ok in the end.

Regards,
-- Al

Thanks Al, the Paypal reimbursement claim has already been filed, it will just take a while to get the dough. I'll just have to struggle by with my ARC phono amp!

That was quick Al! I did report that listing, but I did not expect such quick action by Audiogon, especially on a weekend.

There have been a rash of these ads on Audiogon just in 2015. I'm sure Audiogon is working overtime just trying to keep pace with these crooks. Good job Audiogon!!

Bdp24,Hope you get your money back soon! I can't imagine the let down you must have felt!

Thanks Ray. You can't request a reimbursement (after having already filed a claim with Paypal) until five days after the Paypal transaction, to give Paypal a chance to contact the seller for a response. I'll do that tomorrow.